The BurySOUND music competition is looking for up and coming bands to sign up for next year’s event - as it celebrates its 20th anniversary.

The popular music competition returns in early 2018 with five rounds of heats, from Friday, January 26, and a grand final on Friday, March 9, at The Apex .

Five bands will grace the stage at each of the heats.

The competition prides itself on giving a platform for local singer/songwriters and musical groups, handing them a spot in the limelight while promoting and nurturing their talents.

The event was originally launched in 1998 by St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s Jackie Smith and local promoter Paul Johnson in the hope of instigating a DIY, grass roots, contemporary music scene in the Bury St Edmunds area.

Over the years it had showcased more than 200 local acts, becoming one of the best known and longest running band competitions in the region.

Previous winners include Huntar, aka Lewis Mokler, who is currently enjoying huge success with Biffy Clyro’s Good Soldier Songs label, and Miss Black America, who later recorded sessions for the Radio One DJ John Peel and were championed by NME, drownedinsound.com and Rolling Stone magazines.

Event organiser Seymour Quigley said it is about giving local bands a platform.

He said: “Bands are judged by a panel of music industry experts, however, the competition aspect is secondary to the thrill of discovering incredible new music in a positive and supportive atmosphere.”

Applications for next year’s competition are now open, with bands urged to sign up for one of the five heats.

The first two heats take place in January 26 and February 2 at the Hunter Club in Bury St Edmunds.

The third is at Haverhill Arts Centre on February 9 with heats four and five returning to the Hunter Club on February 16 and February 23.

The grand final is set for Friday, March 9, at the prestigious Apex venue which will include a headline spot for last year’s winners, grunge surf-punk trio Tundra. Bands can enter BurySOUND through the event’s website at www.burysound.com/enter. Bands and artists of all ages from East Anglia are welcome to apply. The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday, November 3.